As an aside, I was driving g through Ireland for a couple weeks, and went back and forth between northern and the republic. Invariably locals would try to give me directions, and one out of five times they would describe the exact same route but some would say, “via Derry” and others would say “Londonderry”.

I can only imagine that there are some tense meetings going on within Team Vatican right now. Ireland has been one of their most devoted markets for some centuries; and now they appear to have lost more ground in the span of a few comparatively quiet decades than they did when Cromwell was trying to burn them out. Unlike Spain, they can’t blame a backlash against clerical fascism, either.

Is there any compelling reason why The State has any say in who marries? If people agree to the contract, it seems that they could just witness it. Marriage is whatever the participants decide that it is, otherwise, it is merely a stereotype.

Every country who has gotten marriage equality says they’ll go back for trans people next. As far as I know, Ireland is the only country that has actually followed through. Shortly after the marriage vote, they passed one of the best Gender Recognition laws in Europe.

Are you saying executive power is derived from a mandate from the masses?

King Arthur: I am your king.
Peasant Woman: Well, I didn’t vote for you.
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Peasant Woman: Well, how’d you become king, then?
[Angelic music plays… ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.
Dennis the Peasant: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis the Peasant: You can’t expect to wield supreme power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Arthur: Shut up
Dennis the Peasant: I mean, if I went around saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they’d put me away!

Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system!

The arguments I have heard against polyamorous marriages have tended to be rather sketchy.

I have no issue with polyamorous marriages. They’re whatever people make of them. But in practice most poly marriages are really polygamous and a means for a man to attempt to literally own several women. Which I can’t support.

Polyamory and poly marriages? Sure, no big deal. They’re just typical marriages with more participants. Polygamous ownership of a harem? That seems wrong. But as long as we can’t verify that the participants are under duress I suppose there’s not much reason to take issue.

Is there any compelling reason why The State has any say in who marries

One of the UK regional legislature thingies (Guernsey) is doing that and simply abolishing state marriage. Civil unions for everyone! I’m not sure if they’re libertarians (it’s a tax shelter) or just religious people angrily flipping the table (it’s very small)